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Excited About the Future

Vicky Mkony lives and works in a small community called Arisi near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She and her husband, Elihuruma, have two sons and two daughters, ages 17, 15, 12, and 11. The average income in Arisi is less than $1 a day, and with two children in secondary school and two in primary school, education expenses are a pressing need for the Mkony family. Vicky’s family earns a living through farming, livestock management, and an organic backyard garden. Through her Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and entrepreneurial training, Vicky has been able to increase the family’s income.

When asked about how her partnership with Plant With Purpose has changed her life, Vicky said, “Before joining … I was just obtaining food from my small farm and mostly depending on my husband financially. But as a result of this organization, I changed the management practices on the farm, which now gives me more than just food.”

Vicky harvests so much that she now has surplus to sell for income, and she is able to sell animals for income too. That means she can pay for her children’s education. By sending her children to school, she is investing in a hopeful future for her family and community.

Vicky and members of her VSLA are also investing in the future by working to restore the land. That way, they are making sure that their land is productive for a long time. “This year I added 150 trees to my farm,” Vicky said.

The excitement of the group for looking to the future has spread. “While we implemented tree planting, I could see some [others] copying what we do too,” Vicky said.

According to Vicky, the changes she has experienced are “a good thing.”